Lubricator



(No Model.) F. G. HUBBARD.

LUBRIGATOR.

Patented Deo. 16, 1890.

on, line -3 UNITED STATES FRANK. G. IIUBBARD, OF MILVAUKEE, \VISCONSIN.

L U B R l C AT O R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,624, dated December 16, 1890.

Application tiled April 15, 1890. Serial No. 348,011. (No modali) To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK. G. HUBBARD, of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ot Wisconsin, have invented certain Improvements in Lubricators, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to a device intended more particularly for effecting the lubrication of the cross-head guides of locomotive-engines, although adapted for use in other places.

The principal objects of the invention are to eect a properly-graduated delivery of oil to the guides whenever the engine is in motion and to prevent the delivery of the lubricant when the engine is at rest.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the ordinary crosshead and cross-head guides with my lubricators applied thereto. Fig. i is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section through one ot' the lubricators on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the cross-head; B, the piston-rod to which it is attached; C, the horizontal cross-head guides constructed and arranged as usual, and D the lubricator. There are two lubricators, attached one to each of the upper guides. Each lubricator consists of a cup or body portion a, provided at the lower end with a tubular neck a', which is threaded into the guide and which communicates with an openingleading downward through the latter. In the base of the cup there is mounted a horizontal plunger a2, provided with a circumferential groove CL3, which by the reciprocation of the plunger is caused to register alternately with a feedopening afi, leading downward from the cup, and with the delivery-opening a5 through the neck or bottom of the cup. A spiral spring a, acting against the end ot' the plunger,

Vtends constantly to torce the same outward,

so that its groove a3 will register with the discharge-opening a5. At one end the plun ger is reduced to form a neck, which is extended outward through a gland or stuffingbox, so as to be exposed outside ot the cup to the action of the operating devices hereinatter described. A vertical tube a7 extends from the chamber at the inner end of the plunger upward into the top of the cup or lubricator, allowing air to pass into and out of the space behind the plunger as the latter reciprocates. As the plunger is driven inward, the air is expelled through the tube, and being driven upward into the top of the cup is there compressed to assist in driving the oil or other lubricant downward through the port a4 int-o the plunger of the piston.

For the purpose of operating the plunger I mount on each of the cross-heads, in a suitable guide-plate e, a horizontal sliding bolt e', one end of which is arranged in position to act upon the plunger, while the opposite end is bent inward at a right angle in position to encounter a bar E, carried by a stud e2, screwed into the cross-head. Each of the rods e is encircled by a spiral spring e3, acting at one end against the supporting-plate and at the opposite end against a collar on the rod. This spring tends constantly to urge the rod toward the plunger and is of greater strength than the spring ai, so that when the parts are released the spring es, overcoming the spring a, holds the plunger inward with its groove CL3 in connection with the opening a4. This is the normal position of the parts. As the cross-head advances, the bar E acts against the two rods e', carrying them forward in the direction of the arrow away from the feedplunger CL2, whereupon the plunger is driven forward by the spring a, closing the opening a4 and carrying the groove as over the opening a, whereupon the contained oil is discharged. As the cross-head retreats, the bar E releases the rods c', whereupon the springs e3 act to return the rod and plunger to their normal positions. As the air-tube, which is of small size, checks the admission ot' air into the space or chamber behind the piston, the motion of the latter is retarded in such manner as to prevent a violent or hammering action and to give sufficient time to insure thc filling ot the groove or channel in the piston.

The employment of the two independent springs to move the piston in opposite directions is advantageous, in that the several parts of the lubricator are permitted to move smoothly and easily when the engine is driven at high speeds.

I'Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a lubricator, the oil-cup having the ICO 3. In combination `with an oil-cup, an oi1.

delivery plunger, and a spring to move the same in one direction, in combination with a spring-actuated rod to move the same in the opposite direction against the resistance of the first-named spring, and a cross-head arranged to overcome the second spring and render the same inactive at each stroke, thereby allowing the weaker spring to actuate the piston.

4. In combination with the cross-head and the arm or bar E, carried thereby, the two cross-head guides, the two oilcups, their plungers, the springs acting against the plungers, and the external rods arranged to encounter the arm E, the springs acting on said rods.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this 12th day of March, 1890, in the presence of two attesting Witnesses.

FRANK. G. HUBBARD. -Witnesses:

C. C. DIMocK', II. BQ EARLING. 

